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Girlfriends in God - Jan. 8, 2007

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV).

Friend to Friend

There is nothing wrong with us trying to understand why bad things happen to good people; however, the Bible clearly tells us not to depend on or lean on our ability to answer the tough question…why. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart,” the writer of Proverbs tells us, “and do not lean on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5).

Ultimately, God is in control and His ways are higher than ours. God reminds us, “’For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts’” (Isaiah 55:8-9). Dr. James Dobson, in his book, When God Doesn’t Make Sense says “trying to analyze His (God’s) omnipotence is like an amoeba attempting to comprehend the behavior of man.”[1] It is simply not possible.

But one thing we can be sure of, “all the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful,” whether we understand them or not (Psalm 25:10). “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known” (1 Corinthians 13:12). It may not be until we cross over from the temporal to the eternal that we understand the many “whys” of life. Until then, we must trust in the sovereignty of God.

No matter what we have gone through or what we will go through in the future, God promises: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand: (Isaiah 41:10).

God wants to know if we will trust Him no matter what our outward circumstances may be – even if it means death. Will we say with Job “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him” (Job 13:15).

Dear Lord, I thank You that Your ways are higher than my ways. I make a poor god on my best days. I thank You for being an all-knowing, all-seeing, ever-present God who knows what’s best for me. Forgive me for questioning You and help me to trust you more. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Now it's Your Turn

What area do you have the most difficulty trusting God? Your marriage? Your children? Your finances?

Do you believe that God understands that area of your life better than you do?

Are you willing to trust God even though you do not understand His ways?

Meditate on the Scriptures that are mentioned in today’s devotional.

*All Scripture references are taken from the NIV unless otherwise noted.